Wenger would rather avoid Blues

Arsene Wenger today turned down Chelsea’s Champions League challenge and insisted he does not want tomorrow’s quarter-finals draw to throw up a ‘Battle of Britain’ with Arsenal’s London rivals.

The Gunners booked their place in the last-eight of Europe’s top club competition last night, easing to a slick 2-0 success against 10-man Celta Vigo at Highbury to clinch their 5-2 aggregate advance to the last eight.